THE National Novena at Knock has been postponed until later this year amid concerns about a rise in Covid cases linked to the highly-infectious Delta variant.
The annual event at the Marian Shrine in Co Mayo was due to take place from August 14 to 22.
Parish priest and rector of Knock Shrine, Fr Richard Gibbons, said the postponement was due to health and safety concerns.
"Given the recent concern from both government and health agencies regarding the Delta variant of the coronavirus, the responsible course of action is to postpone the National Novena at this time," he said.
The move means the Novena has been postponed for a second year in a row.
"Once we can safely gather again at Knock Shrine a full programme will be announced for the Novena to take place later in the year," Fr Gibbons said.
The shrine is open for daily Mass with restricted capacity at Knock Basilica.
Knock is an internationally recognised Marian Shrine and was visited by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1979 as part of his apostolic pilgrimage, and in 2018 by Pope Francis as part of the celebrations in Ireland for the IX World Meeting of Families.
On March 19 2021, Pope Francis officially recognised Knock as an International Marian Shrine.
